Therapy
A permanent disturbance of the potassium level must be avoided at all costs. Not only does the imbalance in many physical processes represent a restriction in everyday life, but it can also cause life-threatening situations, especially in connection with heart excitation, and cause lasting damage to the heart muscle. The cause of hypokalemia must be identified and corrected.
Several reasons can be considered, for example: Hypokalemia can also be triggered by medication, including insulin therapy or the use of diuretics, i.e. draining drugs. In the acute situation, the low potassium level must be compensated immediately, regardless of the cause. This is partly possible with potassium-rich food or potassium chloride tablets.
In severe cases, potassium chloride must be given intravenously under strict supervision. An ECG should be run as a control in case hyperkalemia occurs.
- Extreme malnutrition,
- Vomiting,
- Severe diarrhea.
Causes
Hypokalemia can have many different causes. First of all, gastrointestinal infections, which lead to vomiting and diarrhea, can cause a considerable potassium deficiency. Vomiting of other genesis, such as bulimia, has the same effect.
The body loses many salts and also stomach acid in these situations. This leads to a drop in the pH-value.However, since the pH value must be kept within a narrow range in order for essential bodily functions to be carried out, a metabolic counter-regulation is switched on, which now begins to save acids. This happens in the kidneys in exchange for potassium.
Potassium is thus excreted more and more, while H+ atoms are reabsorbed. Extreme malnutrition can also lead to loss of potassium and to deficiencies of all other minerals in the blood. This is simply because the intake is not sufficiently covered by the diet.
Hypokalemia can also be triggered by medication. In particular loop diuretics, i.e. water-ejecting drugs used to treat pulmonary edema or heart failure, can cause increased potassium loss. These drugs inhibit the reabsorption of various minerals, especially potassium, in the kidneys, so that these minerals are excreted with the urine.
However, insulin therapy for diabetes also has the side effect of hypokalemia. Insulin ensures that the cells absorb sugar and potassium, so that less potassium remains in the blood. The so-called “Conn syndrome” also causes hypokalemia.
This is a so-called primary hyperaldosteronism, which means that the hormone aldosterone is not subject to feedback and is released uncontrolled. The aldosterone is responsible in the kidney for the absorption of sodium in exchange for potassium. This means that an increased aldosterone level is accompanied by a decreased potassium level. There are three different causes for “Conn syndrome“: A hormone-producing adrenal gland tumor, a hyperactive adrenal cortex and genetic mutations. A sign of this syndrome is the conspicuous hypokalemia at a young age.
